Through trachoma surveys, Colombia, Guyana, and Panama are optimizing resources and strengthening diagnosis among vulnerable populations.
Washington, D.C., 14 August 2026 (PAHO) - Reaching the most isolated areas of the Region of the Americas requires innovative and efficient approaches. To address this challenge, several countries are integrating Chagas disease testing into existing trachoma surveys. Known as “Trachoma Plus,” this approach makes it possible to generate key epidemiological information in remote communities without duplicating logistical or financial efforts.
Implementation of this initiative was strengthened following a series of technical workshops coordinated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) last July. During these sessions, technical teams from Colombia, Guyana, and Panama developed action plans tailored to their geographic and operational contexts, building on trachoma surveillance platforms that will be implemented in rural, Indigenous, and Amazonian territories.
“Integrating Chagas disease testing into trachoma surveys is a strategy that optimizes human, logistical, and financial resources. Using an established platform to reach remote populations enables countries to generate valuable epidemiological information without duplicating efforts,” said Dr. Sandra Talero, PAHO Technical Officer for Trachoma.
Innovation tailored to local realities
The technical workshops underscored that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, innovative approaches must be adapted to the epidemiological, geographic, and operational conditions of each territory.
In Guyana’s Amazonian regions, trachoma surveys will include the collection of serum samples for Chagas disease testing. This requires strict cold-chain logistics and intermediate collection points to preserve sample quality.
In Panama, given the long distances and limited refrigeration infrastructure, the country opted to use rapid diagnostic tests during community-based field activities. This will help determine the epidemiological situation and inform future actions.
Colombia will use a rapid-test-based algorithm in the department of Vaupés. This approach facilitates case confirmation in the field and helps expedite access to medical care in the most remote areas.
A pathway to integrated care
Experts agreed that diagnosis is not the end goal, but rather the beginning of a continuum of care. All cases identified through Trachoma Plus surveys will be formally linked to local health service networks to ensure diagnostic confirmation, timely treatment, and ongoing follow-up.
This integrated surveillance model also has significant potential for future expansion. By using a single operational platform, surveys can incorporate additional serosurveillance components, facilitating the simultaneous collection of data on multiple communicable diseases of public health importance.
The strategy aims to address longstanding information gaps in areas where health data remain limited. Access to reliable epidemiological evidence will enable ministries of health to better guide public health policies, strengthen disease surveillance, and accelerate progress toward the control and elimination of these diseases.
PAHO will continue providing technical cooperation across the Region to advance these integrated approaches. Both trachoma and Chagas disease are included in PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, which seeks to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.
